Folding structure



Mrch 12, 1929. `B, s, VAUGHAN 1,705,347

' FOLDING STRUCTURE Filed May 12, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 zf/ 1.5 01571271 di 'a l l i V7] 'y al@ WITNESSES L my' March 12, `1929. B; s. VAUGHAN Filed May 12. 192s i 2 sheets-sheet 2 mi L.'

lllll l 3 I l Y .l ATTORNEY stalled into table structures for locking Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT or BERKELEY S. VAUGHAN, 0l' GREENVILLE, yMICHIGAN, ASSIGNOE T0 TOWER., 0F GREENVILLE,

l11,705,341 FICE.

FRANCIS E. MICHIGAN.

'nomme s'rnuezrunn Application mea nay ia.

This invention relates to folding tables, and especially to means for holding or locking the legs of such tables invopen or ac tlve position, though it is capable of a much wider use, as hereinafter indicated. v

Anobject of the invention is to provide simple andA eliicient means adapted to automatically act to lock the legs as the latter are swung open no matterwhat position the body of the table may be in, said legs being rigidly held against accidental collapse while supporting the table and soconstructed and arranged as to permit of the ready' collapse of theptable when desired, without danger of injury to the hands. y

Another object is to provide locking means of this character which requires no manipulation other than the mere opening or swinging of the legs to cause the same to automatically act, the improvements being easily and cheaply manufactured and readily. iin t e legs either individually o r in pairs, depending upon the style of the table, or installed in Tthe structure of refrigerators, trunks, chests or the like for automatically stopping and.y locking the lids or covers thereof in open position, and to readily, permit the same to closed.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following ldetailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be ity 'with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long. as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar refer-l ence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of a well known form of table having the improve# ments applied thereto and showing the legs in folded position. f

Figure 2 isan enlarged horizontal section through one corner of the the leg in folded position. Figure 3 is a plan view 'of the same corner confined to strict conforminverted table with `1926. Serial No. 108,581.

swungl of the inverted table, the leg beingl own 1n open linto supporting position and s section.

Figure 4 is a vertical Ysection through one orshowing the parts sections gether at their meeting ends, and the said tabletop is further braced and4 strengthened by a transverse reinforcing stri 3 suitbly secured to the under face of t e table A separate and independent leg 4 is termi-l nally pivoted tothe inner facelof each 'of the marginal strips 2 and adjacent to the corner of the frame, so that when the legs arefolded up. beneath the table top, the samellie parallel with and close to 4the inner faces of the strips, and all extending ina similar direction relative to thesaid adjacent side strip, with the free ends of the legs frictionally held in such folded position by hingingfelements to be later described. l Forv the purpose of they are each with a transverse bore or passageway 5,' which is adapted to receive'a horizontally disposed pivot rod 6 which likewise passes pivoting" the l legs,

table such as 1s lused for playing cards-or for sewing, but as theis provided with' the usual framework` providedy adjacent to one 'end throughfthe adjacent marginal strip 2, the

inner. end of said rod being mounted in an ear 7 of an angle bracket secured to the inner face of the next adjacent marginal strip 2. v In order to space the leg from the parallel strip 2, a plurality of washers 8 ma be in'. terposed between. t e same and upon t e pivot los p terminal enlargement rod, and the aforesaid bracket is provided with an attaching plate 9 which is held to the said adjacent strip by means of a rivet 10, the outer end of the latter being riveted over a washer 11 to prevent unduly marring the outer face of said strip.

The ends of the pivot rod are likewise riveted over, the outer end being also provided with a similar purpose.,

. The improved means washer 12 for a for locking the legs 4 in open or supporting position, as shown 1n Figure 4,I comprises a thin, 13 whichfis pivoted at spring-metal strip one end by means of a rivet 14 traversing a suitable passageway 15 formed in the leg adjacent pivot rod 6, the said strip to the aforesaid 13 being located,

when the leg is folded as shown in Figures 1 and 2, between the said leg parallel, marginal A washer 16 is strip 2.

and the adjacent,

preferably interposed between the strip 13 and the leg to avoid damaging the latter, and a similar washer 17 is carried by the rivet 14, at the inner end of the latter, the ends being riveted over in the usual manner.

The -strip 13 is adapted to or brace for porting position,

constitute a strut holding the leg open or in supand sai'd strip is provlued,

at its free swinging end, with a longitudinally disposed slot 18, closed at each end and provided at its outer end with a communicating, enlarged,` circular opening or enlargement 19 located close to Coacting with stud 2O preferably in the the end ofthe strip.

the slot 18 of the strut is a form of an antifriction roller, mounted for rotation upon a headed pin or nail 21 secured to to be understood be formed integrally with .The reduced end the inner side evolubility. The

with an enlarged base ,por-

Xt to the inner face of said and said base portion 22 is joined by a rtion 23 with an 24, the head 25 of against the reduced the same thereon.

24 of the roller is of a f diameter to freely t and slide in the slot 18 of the strut,

while the enlarged, inner end 22 of said roller is adapted to freely slide into the 19 of thelslot when oposite the same and, when thus engaged, the

shoulders 26 which are bearL against the larger por to prevent retrograde movement of the 'strut roller traversing the slot 18,

in an obvious manner. 8

formed at the junction of the slot and enlargemen t, are adapted to tion 'of the roller (See Figures 5 and With the strut mounted in the manner described and with the reduced portion ofthe the' leg and strut 'i may be'folded up beneath the top of the table and adjacent to the inner face of the adjacent,

parallel strip 2in an out-ofthe-way position,

Midway between its ends the strut is bent to cause the free end thereof to press outwardly at all times so that, when the leg is swung about its pivot 6, the sides of the slot 18 are caused to travel along the reduced portion 24 of the roller, the adjacent conical portion preventing the outward movement of the strut relative to the center of the table, while at the same time the head 25 prevents any 04pposite movement which might be imparted by some outside force. -When the leg as been swung to active position at exactly right angles to the table top, the outward tendency of the strut, due to the Said bending, causes the enlargement 19 at the end of the slot to spring across the conical portion of the roller and to engage with the enlarged base portion 22 of the same when the leg is effectually locked against further movement in that direction, while the v.aforesaid shoulders 26 bearing against said portion 22, serve to prevent any retrograde movement of the strut relative to the stud, and the leg is rigidly maintained in the proper position to support the table without any liability of becoming accidentally unlocked. Each leg is moved independently of the others to active position, and when it is desired to knock down or fold the table', all that is necessary is to impart a slight inward pressure upon each strut in turn, upon that portion where exposed between the leg and the marginal strip, to eifeet its disengagement from the enlarged aforesaid inherent portion of the coacting roller-and toaline'l same with the reduced portion of the latter, when said legs may be folded up against the underside of the table top, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In riveting over the ends of the strut pivot 14 considerable tension may be applied to the pivotal point of said strut to provide a tight, frictional joint, the same being greatly facilitated by the interposed washers 16 and 17, so that all lost motion is eliminated and the aforesaid inherent tendency of the strut to spring outwardly is maintained.

`The spacing members or washers 8, which are under considerable tension by the riveting of the pivot 6, serve not only to separate the leg from the rail but turn on each other, when 'the leg is moved about said pivot 6 in either direction, thus providing a lmetal to metal bearing surface producing great-frictional resistance on the .leg to hold the same at any strength and durability by the'elimination of moraal?? 3 expensive intermediate joints that soon bestud roller carried by the table top, said roller come worn and fail to supply the desired having a portion of larger diameter than anrigidity in the leg brace. other portion, said portions being connected he only parts of the invention liable to by a tapered portion the smaller portion be- 5 wear are the edges of the slot 18 and the small ing adapted to traverse the slot in the strut o5 part 24 of the stud or roller 20, which have when the leg is swung, and the larger portion nothing to do with bracing the leg, as the latbeing adapted to engage in the terminal enter is rigidly held when the enlarged portion largement of the slot when the leg is swung 19 of the slot is engaged with the enlarged to active or open position, said strut norportion 22 of the stud and these parts, not bemally tending to snap overthe enlarged por- 70 ing subject to wear, will always maintain a tion of the stud roller. nice fit, thus providing for a quick and posi- 3. An automatic locking brace for a swingtive locking action when the strut automatiing'table leg comprising, in combination, cally engages the same. with a support, a spring strut terminally piv- The distinguishing characteristics of the oted to the table leg adjacent to the pivot of 75 table leg brace as shown and described reside the latter and adapted to fold alongside in the peculiar formation of the coactin thereof when swung to closed position, said parts as embodied in the slotted strut and the "Strut having a longitudinal slot near its free cone-shaped roller or stud. v end and terminating in an enlargement at the f' From the foregoing it will be seen that a outer end of the same, an anti-friction roller 80 simple, strong and durable structure has been, carried by the support and having a. portion provided which is especiallyadapted for card of smaller diameter at its outer end to travtables, sewing tables or the like, where the eISo the Slotand la portion of larger diametable is small and ample room for the kneesof terat its inner end to fit the enlargement A the user or users is required, for the lower end thereof, the two portions-being connected by 85 of the struts 13 where pivotally connected to a tapered portion to facilitate the springing the legs, may-be closely adjacent to thefupper action of the strut and cause the enlargeor pivoted-ends of the legs 4 to provide such ment in the slot thereof to engage the larger room, and yet ample rigidity maintained in 1901111011 0f the P01161 When the Said member said legs to properly support the table In 1s swung open, and a head formed on the 90 addition to the above, by closely associating Outer end 0f the roller to prevent disengagethe strut pivot 14 with the leg pivot 6,the strut ment 0f the Strut therefrom. will sufficiently brace the leg and may be 4. An automatically locking brace for table folded in with the latter along the inner side legs OI the like, 1n combination with a sup- II of the strip 2, without danger of the inner end POItlIlg frame, a Spring Inet-illy Strut tel'mi- 95 of the strut abutting the under side of the D ,ally BIVOed t0 @9.011 0f the legS, a hOFiZOntable top 1, and with the result that the strips tally dlSpOSOd Ulti-friction IOllel mounted 0n 2 may be made narrow or shallow and the en' the H IDSI ffice 0f the Said frame member for tire table structure thus greatly reduced in COFLQIOII Wlth each of the struts, each struty i 40 weight. having a tendency to spring outwardly to- 100 What is Claimed is l Wards said frame member when the legs are brace for hinged table legs and the folded, each strut having a longitudinal slot like comprising, in combination, with a supat ltS free end, each slot being closed at each port, a resilient strut pivoted at one end to end and terminating at its outer end in a cirfthe leg and having a long itudinalwlot tercular-enlargement, said rollers each having a 105 mmeting in en enlargement adjacent to the smaller, outer end traversing the slot of the free end of the strut, and a stud carried by the aflacent Strut, a telmlnal head tQ P1' @Vent support and having a diametrically reduced dlengagement thereof, 2111 enlarged Inner end' portion to traverse the slot and a portion of adlaellt t0 the frame member-21nd a conical greater diameter te engage in the Said enportion connectingthe small and enlarged 110 largement when the leg or lid is swung open, ends to guide the enlargement of the slot into said portions being connected by a tapered lthe enlarged end, said enlarged end locking portion, said strut, normally tendingv to-snap the strut when the latter has sprung outwardover the enlarged portion vof the stud. ly to hold the vleg at right angles to the table 2. A brace to hold a hinged table leg in top. 115 open position relative to the table top, coin- In testimony, that I claim the foregoing prising a resilient metallic strut terminally as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signapivoted to the leg, said struthaving a longiture. tudinal slot formed at its free'end and termii nating at its outer end in an enlargement, a BERKELEY S. VAUGHAN. 

